8 Lessons Businesses Can Learn From USWNT’s 2015 World Cup Win

The Yanks have done it again. In what was described as a fairy tale rematch, the United States women’s national soccer team (USWNT) crushed Japan 5-2 in the final of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, held on July 5, 2015 in Vancouver, Canada. It was sweet revenge two times in a row for the Yanks, who lost to the same team in the 2011 World Cup.

USA and Japan met again the following year, in the gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The Americans won 2-1, and three years later, they validated their mastery over Japan with their most recent win. In the process, they have exorcised the ghost of their 2011 loss, and won their third World Cup title, their first after (sweet) sixteen years or four World Cup cycles.

What can big companies and small businesses learn from USWNT’s latest journey to World Cup victory? Plenty, so take note (and heart)!

1. Be loud, but don’t forget to back it up – The USWNT donned Nike-made victory shirts with slogans that read “Greatness Has Been Found” to celebrate their Olympic gold medal win against Japan – and they were criticized for lacking humility and sportsmanship. Greatness has been found – again in USWNT’s latest win over Japan. Lesson here? Walk the (loud) talk.

2. Be convinced about yourself – What use is having the right lineup, the right plan, and the right people to execute it if you yourself don’t believe you could win the game? The Americans (ranked #2) knew they can’t take the Germans (ranked #1) lightly in their semifinal, but they believed they were going to beat the world’s top-ranked team. They did. Belief is power.

3. Have the right tactics – In their semifinal against Germany, the Americans changed tactics, shifting to a formation that allowed them to hold the midfield. Having to play in different formations didn’t hamper them because they are trained to…

4. Be versatile – The USWNT has versatility, not just talent. They were more than ready to change formation and position to play against a certain team, and they still played well. For them, talent is nothing without versatility.

5. Make the switch – The USWNT changed their coach twice after their London victory, ending with a coach who had never used the same starting lineup in consecutive matches until their group stage finale and the round-of-16. Talk about making the right changes at the most crucial times.

6. Find the right players – The roster that just won the World Cup has a few players who have played in Europe, the madhouse of soccer. Players with international experience aside, the USWNT is blessed to have versatile players, not just talented ones.

7. Give people a reason to believe – America isn’t a soccer powerhouse, but the USWNT give their fans a reason to follow the sport and to root for them in all international matches. There isn’t any reason why America shouldn’t pay attention to its national soccer team, a team that delivers.

8. Don't settle for second best – The USWNT has a must-win attitude which earned them their three World Cup titles (and a top 3 finish in every seven World Cup appearance), four Olympic gold medals (and a top 3 finish in every five Olympic appearance), and seven CONCACAF Women's Championship titles (and a top 3 finish in every eight appearance).

Is your business ready to become a champion like the USWNT? Are you ready to lead your team to success? Do you believe you can win? Are you ready to win?

Don’t be afraid to make the necessary changes in your organization. Champions change tactics and formations to win games. Perhaps you can win through call center outsourcing in the Philippines. If you want to know how an outside expert can help your business become a champion, call Taking You Forward today.